Pueblo, CO The DP out of Fuel, Denver Brush DS in Tales of the Jointed Track

I caught a trip south off the Denver extra board. The Inter divisional run-thru hasn’t started yet. We are called on rest at Pueblo,CO. I notice three SD-70-MAC’s on the old fuel track. The contract fueler Cliff Brice was there. The lead two were to get fuel. The third unit was DIC (Dead in Consist), so nothing needed. They were supposed to fill the DP in Hump 3, but I think that was lost in the conversation. We’ll find out soon enough.

We report and get our track bulletins and call the Rennicks yardmaster via phone. They supervise out of Denver 120 miles away. “Grab the three units off the fuel track, up Class 12, to Hump 2, train is in Hump 3. Air test and call when ready to depart. Train has been off air 2 hours”.

We get on the train. The conductor cuts in the air. I take the DP out of “Set Out Mode”, and wait to see the air pressure come into the DP unit. Its starting and at 45 lbs train line pressure, a beep and the Feed Valve for the DP kicks in. It is helping now in charging the train line. Still “set and centered” for the conductor and he knocks off the five hand brakes on the train. I make the required set and release per rule. We call for the signal, and we are lined out of the hump.

Around CTC Crews, I notice odd activity on the DP locomotive. 35000 K dropping to 10000 K back to 29000 K. This is the tractive effort that the AC motors are producing.

Side note: DC traction motors are measured and monitored by amperage (amps). The AC’s are monitored by Tractive effort. It is simple, and you know what the unit is doing.

I have an idea, and its running out of fuel. They didn’t fuel this. I place the screen for the DP, into isolate, and hope that this will get us into Denver. The two SD-70-MAC’s will get this empty to town.

I call the first trick DS MWC. “Mike, I think the DP is running out of fuel, It is isolated, via screen control. The Chief and Denver needs to know, so they can make plans to either fuel or cut-off”. Response “okay, will tell them”. Action, I am off in 45 minutes, and have a great trip. This one is like Steve, I am here and deal with it. I have worked with GREAT Dispatchers over my career, sorry we all in our crafts have the “skaters” that just do what is minimally necessary.

Greenland, CO 1800 or 600 pm.

Coming into the reverse curves between Greenland and Larkspur, an alarm on the DP. Yep the unit ran out of fuel. I tone up mechanical and relay the info. It is Mike Duberly, I worked with him on the Santa Fe side in Schaumberg and Ft Worth.

We go through the usual diagnostics. “You may have to set it out”. “Yeah where? and we have no ETD”. “I am about 45 minutes out of Denver, we have two more wayside detectors. I can still receive other info like, wheelslip , etc. The battery should get us there”. “Okay, I know you know your stuff, just monitor closely, and we will take additional steps”.

I tone up DS-16. It is a new gal, shes skittish, but she can’t really do anything to me, because I am on the ABS, till I get to CTC Littleton. “DS-16 Ft Worth”. “DS BNSF 8889 North at Larkspur. The DP has run out of fuel, let the Chief and Brush know, Denver Terminal needs to know. We have enough battery off the DP, to make it into town”. Silence. After, about 10 minutes, “DS-16 to 8889 North, the Chief says they were fueled at Pueblo”. “Really DS, we picked up the Head Consist at the Fuel track, did they fuel the the DP?” “I don’t know” “Well neither do I, and does the Chief”. Silence. “DS 16, why did you wait to tell us?” “Dispatcher I told MWC the DS you relieved at CTC Crews, that we thought the DP was running out of fuel”. “He never said anything”. “Yes what a revelation that is. Tell the Chief tell Brush, and have them notify the terminal”. “DS-16 out” . Okay, nothing occurred till arrival at CTC Englewood.

CTC Englewood 1945- 745 pm:

We have cleared our track warrant. The radio change has been made to channel 66. We tone the Brush DS. Damn it!!, its Steve Gottle, and this will become an ugly exchange. I usually don’t get into battles, but this debacle has gone on for far too long.

“Brush line Dispatcher” “DS BNSF 8889 North, out of Littleton, and the DP is out of fuel” Silence… This will be good. “I don’t know why you waited to get into the corridor and just tell us. There is a bulletin out that we are to be notified previous”. Okay Plasma physics vs the BNSF NOC dog and pony show. I am sorry but I unloaded on Steve. ” Steve, How many people do I have to notify, before this sinks in. I told DS-16 first trick at Crews..I told DS-16, second trick. I told both to notify the Chief. I notified NOC Mechanical. The Denver 31st Street was to be notified. I worked down there at the NOC for 5 YEARS, I know where you sit and DS 16 plus the Chief.!!!! You guys can’t communicate or what!!” Silence… The radio comes from another crew.. “Bite ‘em good Shoe!!!”

“Brush line to 8889 signal indication, call 31st at 20th Street”. Well, they know the ball has been dropped.

Now Plasma physics 201 Denver 31st Street:

We call 31st Street, and instructed to come across and change crews. “Do you know or have been told that the DP is out of fuel?” Silence.... Help me somebody. “31st..take ‘em to the east end of Coal two, we will have the engineer verify any problems”. LOL!! We are in the clear in coal two. I set and center for the Sterling sub engineer. “Hey guess what he is right…It is out of fuel” Over the radio I said, “Thank you Jesus, and it took six hours and a million people to be notified that the DP ran out of FUEL!! and it is still out of fuel”. Silence…

Last updated June 30, 2015